2000 HONDA PRELUDE cruise control

Instrument
s an d Control s
This section gives information about the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Honda. All the essential controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations............................ 52
Indicator Lights................................ 53

Gauges.............................................. 58
Speedometer................................ 58
Tachometer..................................
58
Odometer...................................... 58

Trip Meter.................................... 58

Fuel Gauge...................................
59

Temperature Gauge.................... 59
Maintenance Required
Indicator...................................

60
Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................
61

Headlights....................................
62
Daytime Running Lights............. 62
Instrument Panel Brightness..... 63
Turn Signals................................. 63
Windshield Wipers...................... 64
Windshield Washers................... 65
Hazard Warning........................... 65
Rear Window Defogger.............. 65
Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 66
Steeling Wheel Controls................ 67
Cruise Control.............................. 67
Keys and Locks................................ 70
Keys............................................... 70
Learning Key................................ 71
Immobilizer System..................... 71
Ignition Switch............................. 73
Power Door Locks.......................74
Lockout Prevention..................... 75
Remote Transmitter ...................
. 75

Trunk...........................................

78
Glove Box..................................... 79
Seat Adjustments............................ .
80
Front Seat Adjustments.............. 80
Driver's Seat Height Adjustment............................... 81

Rear Seat Access......................... 81

Head Restraints........................... 82
Seat Heaters..................................... 83

Folding Rear Seat............................ 84
Power Windows............................... 85

Moonroof.......................................... 87

Mirrors..............................................

88
Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 8
8

Parking Brake.................................. 89

Digital Clock..................................... 90

Beverage Holder..............................
91
Console Compartment.................... 92
Coin Box.......................................... .
93
Accessory Power Socket................ 93

Ashtrays............................................ 94
Interior Lights.................................. 94
Ceiling Lights............................... 94

Courtesy Lights........................... 95
Instrument s an d Control s

Indicator Light s
Supplementa l Restrain t
System Indicato r
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem in thesupplemental restraint system. For
complete information, see page 47.
Immobilize r Syste m
Indicato r
This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go off if
you have inserted a properly-coded ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blinkand the engine will not start (see
page 71).
This indicator also blinks several times when you turn the ignitionswitch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0). Chargin
g Syste m
Indicato r
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
information, see page 249.
Lo w Oi l Pressur e
Indicato r
The engine can be severely damaged
if this light flashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
information, see page 248.
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lam p
See page 250.
Cruis e Contro l Indicato r
This lights when you set the cruise
control. See page 67 for information
on operating the cruise control.
Parkin g Brak e
an d Brak e
System
Indicato r
This light has two functions:
1. It lights as a reminder that you have not released the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake applied can damage thebrakes and tires.
2. If it remains lit after you release the parking brake while the engine
is running, or comes on while driving, it can indicate a problemin the brake system. For complete
information, see page 251.
Instrument s an d Control s
SRS
CRUISE
CONTRO L
U.S. Canad a
BRAKE

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

The two levers on the steering column contain controls for driving
features you use most often. The left
lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.
The controls under the left air vent are for the moonroof, cruise control
and instrument panel brightness.
The switches for the hazard warning lights and rear window defogger are
to the right of the steering column.
The tilt adjustment lever on the underside of the steering column
allows you to tilt the steering wheel.
Instruments an d Control s
WINDSHIEL
D
WIPERS/WASHER S
(P . 64 )

CRUIS
E

CONTRO L

(P .
67 ) INSTRUMEN
T PANE L

BRIGHTNES S

(P . 63 )
HAZAR
D WARNIN G

LIGHT S

(P . 65 )
REAR WINDO W

DEFOGGER
(P . 65 )

HOR
N
BUTTON S

TILT

ADJUSTMEN
T
(P . 66 )

HEADLIGHTS
/

TUR N SIGNAL S
(P . 62 )
MOONROO
F
(P . 87 )

Steering Whee l Controls
Cruis e Contro l
Cruise control allows you to maintain
a set speed above 25 mph (40 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal. It should be used
for cruising on straight, openhighways. It is not recommended for
conditions such as city driving,
winding roads, slippery roads, heavy rain, or bad weather. You should
have full control of the car under
those conditions.
The cruise control, as it operates,
moves the accelerator pedal. You can
damage your car's accelerator mechanism by resting your foot under the pedal and blocking the movement. Using the Cruise Control
1. Push in the Cruise Control Master
Switch to the left of the steering
column. The indicator in the switch will light.
2. Accelerate to the desired cruising speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
CONTINUED
Instrument s an d Control s
NOTICE
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open highways in good weather.
CRUIS E CONTRO L MASTE R SWITC H

Steerin
g Whee l Control s

3. Press and release the SET/decel button on the steering wheel. TheCRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel comes on to show the system is now activated.
The cruise control may not hold the set speed when you are going
up and down hills. If your speed

increases going down a hill, use

the brakes to slow down to the desired speed. This will cancel the
cruise control. To resume the set

speed, press the RESUME/accel

button. The CRUISE CONTROL

light on the instrument panel
comes on.

When climbing a steep hill, the
automatic transmission may
downshift to hold the set speed.

Changing the Set Speed

You can increase the set cruising speed in any of these ways: Press and hold the RESUME/
accel button. The car will acceler-
ate. When you reach the desired
cruising speed, release the button.
Push on the accelerator pedal. Ac-
celerate to the desired cruising
speed and press the SET/decel

button.
To increase your speed in very
small amounts, tap the RESUME/
accel button repeatedly. Each time you do this, your vehicle will speed
up about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
You can decrease the set cruising speed in any of these ways: Press and hold the SET/decel
button. The car will decelerate. Release the button when you
reach the desired speed. To slow down in very small
amounts, tap the SET/decel
button repeatedly. Each time you do this, your vehicle will slow
down about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
Tap the brake or clutch pedal lightly with your foot. TheCRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel will go out.
When the car slows to the desired speed, press the SET/decel button.
The car will then maintain the desired speed.

Instrument s an d Control s

RESUME
/

acce l

SET/dece l

Steerin
g Whee l Control s

Even with the cruise control turned on, you can still use the accelerator
pedal to speed up for passing. After
completing the pass, take your foot off the accelerator pedal. The car
will return to the set cruising speed.
Resting your foot on the brake or
clutch pedal will cause the cruise
control to cancel. Cancelling the Cruise Control

You can cancel the cruise control in any of these ways:
Tap the brake or clutch pedal.Press the SET/decel and RE-
SUME/accel buttons at the same

time.
Press the Cruise Control Master

Switch.

When you tap the brake or clutch pedal, or press the SET and RE-
SUME buttons at the same time, theCRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel will go out and the
car will begin to slow down. You can
use the accelerator pedal in the
normal way.
The system remembers the previously-set cruising speed. To
return to that speed, accelerate toabove 25 mph (40 km/h) and press
the RESUME/accel button until the
CRUISE CONTROL light comes on.
The car will accelerate to the same cruising speed as before.
Pressing the Cruise Control Master
Switch turns the system completelyoff and erases the previous cruising
speed from memory. To use the
system again, refer to Using the
Cruise Control.

Instrument s an d Control s

Fuel Econom y
The condition of your car and your
driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Vehicl e Conditio n
Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (see page 179). For
example, an underinflated tire
causes more "rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out faster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your fuel mileage and reduces
the chance of corrosion. Drivin
g Habit s
You can improve fuel economy by driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel. Use the cruise control, when appropriate, toincrease fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to "warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on the number of "cold starts," try to
combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes ituse more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use.Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is moderate.
Befor e Drivin g

Drivin
g in Ba d Weathe r

Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-
quire a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your car well- maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control should not be used in these condi-
tions. Drivin
g Techniqu e — Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your car longer to react, even in conditions that mayseem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-

cation of the brakes can cause loss of

control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles (kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in
snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring oil to the surface of the
roadway, making it slippery.
Visibilit
y — Being able to see

clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind-shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defrosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see

page 104).

Drivin g